The Other Side

A Play by P.G.D. AKA B.P.

Scene One

CHARACTERS:

1. Ben

2. Stefan

3.Mia

SETTING
 Ben's living room. TV set, couch, easy chair, coffee table, lamps, a trash can. Window with curtains. Posters and pictures on the wall. The design of the room is cozy, but definitely a single guy's apartment. The apartment is empty when the lights go up. The audience hears two men singing out of tune and loud before they see anyone enter the room. Suddenly the door bursts open and in stumble Ben and Stefan, arm in arm. Ben is holding a bottle in his other hand, which he is quaffing as they enter from stage left. They stumble over to center stage.

BEN AND STEFAN: (singing out of tune) we’re gonna party like it's 1999... (Ben takes another swig from bottle)

STEFAN: (breaking away from Ben does a little dance while still singing) Party.... 1999.... (stopping abruptly) I got to pee. (Begins to walk off stage left)

BEN: Hurry up Bro! I gotta go so bad I can taste it!

STEFAN: (Turning around) That's disgusting Ben.

(STEFAN WALKS OFF STAGE. A MOMENT LATER THE AUDIENCE CAN HEAR THE STREAM HITTING THE WATER IN THE TOILET. STEFAN BEGINS TO WHISTLE)

BEN: (Speaking louder so Stefan can hear him in the bathroom). I don't think I’ve been this drunk even in the army.

STEFAN: (Walking back into the living room) It was finals last year for me. Hey you told me before that you got out of the army because you wanted to go to school. But I was wondering, what was the real reason?

BEN: (Sitting down on the couch) What do you mean?

STEFAN: (Sitting on the table) I mean, you seemed to like what you did, your letters home were sometimes entertaining, always vague, but at one point it seemed you might re-enlist. Why didn't you?

BEN: (Putting his feet up on the table Stefan is sitting on) Well, I did want to go to school. Might as well let Uncle Sam foot some of the bill. But also, I guess I had enough of all that Rambo crap day after day. There had to be more to life than that. A lot of those guys are living in this fantasy world. America, the policeman of the world. I did some crazy stuff as a soldier... just wasn't buying into it anymore.

STEFAN: Ahh so the strong drink makes the truth come out!

BEN: Yeah but I keep that on the down low. I don't want people thinking I wasted four years of my life. I don't think I did, but people will think it if I go around talking like that. Besides, I missed you, my family and my dog.

STEFAN: A big tough guy like you? Mr. Delta Force? The G.I. Joe of G.I. Joes? You missed all of us?  Wait a minute, you hate that dog!

BEN: What can I say, I am a sensitive guy. But hey, probably just the booze talking. And Fluffy is a nice dog. It just shit everywhere. I am glad my folks look after her now.

STEFAN: Fluffy?

BEN: Shaddap!

STEFAN: By the way is Mia coming tonight?

BEN: Yeah, she might be over later... why?

STEFAN: No reason. (SILENCE) Hey remember some of the crazy things we used to do as kids?

BEN: Yeah man, but you were the nut. You were a bad influence on me. I remember you stealing your mom's car and cruising around the town when your feet were long enough to reach the gas pedal! Remember that?

STEFAN: How could I forget? The next morning, my mom was wondering what happened to her full tank of gas. What a story that made in school, huh?

BEN: Yeah, those were the good ol' days. We did everything together.

STEFAN: We still do.... just all grown up now. Life throwing us curve balls. Any regrets?

BEN: No way, man. You were the brother I never had.

(SILENCE AS THEY BOTH REFLECT, LIKE THE THINKER)

STEFAN: Ben?

BEN: Hmmm?

STEFAN: We've been through a lot together you and me. The parties. The adventures. I even went down south to visit you in the army.. drinking with all you Marines

BEN: Army bro, not marines. Those guys are wimps.

STEFAN: (Laughing) I know. I just like giving you a hard time about it.

BEN: No worries.

(SILENCE AS THEY BOTH REFLECT LIKE THE THINKER)

STEFAN: Yeah, it feels like we've been real brothers all these years.

BEN: Brothers from another mother. You were the brother I never had. Didn’t I just say that?

STEFAN: Well then time to let you in on a family secret.

BEN: (Sitting up) Secrets, huh?

STEFAN: Well, maybe this is the alcohol talking... I don't know, but... I...

BEN: What? Something wrong?

STEFAN: Oh nothing wrong really... I guess for all these years, I was thinking of this moment, wondering what it would be like.

BEN: I'm losing ya bro. No one died, you're not kicked out of school... why does this sound like bad news? Don't tell me you found out Mia is a lesbian.... (Laughs) cause I don't know if.... (stares off into space and thinks about it).

STEFAN: No no, nothing like that. Well, not really like that. It's just something that has been on my mind for a while, and I think it is time to....

BEN: Tell me then. What are you waiting for? Is something wrong? Spit it out buddy... Come on, anything you have to say just tell me... I know all your secrets... (stands up smiling)

STEFAN: (Blurting) Ben... I'm gay.

BEN: (Sitting Down) I didn't quite expect that secret though.

(SILENCE AS THEY BOTH REFLECT LIKE THE THINKER)

BEN: Gay?

STEFAN: Gay.

BEN: As in... as in... happy right? The old way of saying happy. The Flintstones, "we're gonna have a gay old time...? That Christmas song ... gay apparel... that gay?

STEFAN: Uh no Ben... I'm a fag. A queen... well not really a queen... Dominique is more of a queen...

BEN: Queen? What are you talking about bro?

STEFAN: Gay as I like men, Benjamin. I dig guys... like you dig Mia...

BEN: Gay? Gay? How long have you been gay for? I mean, when did you know?

STEFAN: I have known for a long time bro. In fact before I met you. I've known since elementary school... realized it in high school, but only accepted it since I met Dominique in university...

BEN: You knew this? And you never told me?

STEFAN: Oh yeah, Ben... that would have went over real well. You and I getting into all the macho mischief and then one day I say, (changes voice) 'oh right Ben, I forgot to tell you.. I'm gay.' (Voice changes back), That would have went over really well in the high school gym locker room after football practice...

BEN: I guess I see what you mean. But what did you tell me for? Why tell me now? Whose Dominique?

STEFAN: I have been living two lives, man. You are my best friend. One of the only people in the world I trust. There are only a few people in the world besides god that know.

BEN: (shaking head) Right...

STEFAN: I've been living with this secret for as long as I can remember and I have to set things straight. I need a piece of mind...

BEN: Your family doesn't know?

STEFAN: Are you kidding? You know my father! He's a cross between the Pope, Archie Bunker and Rocky Marciano depending on what mood he is in, but I wouldn't stand a chance against any one of them, never mind all three. And Mother Theresa doesn't hold a candle to my mother. I would never hear the end of it. Remember when my mother found out her second cousin was gay... that was all the whole family talked about for months!

BEN: Who else have you told?

STEFAN: Just you.

BEN: I don't know what to say...  Whose Dominique?

STEFAN: Sorry bro... didn't mean to lay that on you. I just needed to get that off my chest for lots of reasons. But right now, you seem to be the only one in this world I can tell...

BEN: How many people know in the other world?

STEFAN: Like I said only a few...

BEN: Whose Dominique?

STEFAN: Just a friend. So now what are you going to do, man? I worry about my family finding out someday and rejecting me. I don't quite have the nerve to come fully out at school yet, though I do have friends that....

BEN: Whose Dominique??

STEFAN: Tell me Ben, am I still the brother you never had?

BEN: I have to be honest man... this is a shock to me. I mean.. the slumber parties with all the guys... the girls... the football team... (pauses) the showers... (Looks at Stefan) Hey... did you ever check me out in the shower?

STEFAN: (Shaking head) No man. Come on. That would be incest right? I've always thought of you as a brother... though you did have some cute friends..

BEN: Hey.. I....

STEFAN (interrupts): But it took everything I had to tell you who I am... Hell... I'm the same person, I just think a little different from you, that's all. I just want you to know that you're the only one I got. I trust you and consider you family. You're like the brother I never had too, you know...

BEN: (takes deep breath and shakes his head. Takes about 15 seconds to reflect and then stand up and stumbles over to Stefan)

STEFAN: (in a slightly defensive stance not knowing quite what Ben will do, they are still drunk)

BEN: Stef, I know that this might not have been the reaction you were expecting, but this is all your business. As far as I'm concerned, this does not change much at all. Though now instead of a brother, I now consider you more of the sister I never had...

STEFAN: Why you... (Very quickly pushes Ben on to the couch)

BEN: (Ben falling) Hey! You caught me off guard...

STEFAN: (Flopping down on couch next to him) I know Mr. G.I. Joe. That's the only way I can ever get the better of you. Get you when you least expect it.

BEN: Yeah...

STEFAN: I feel good man, thanks for understanding..

BEN: Thanks for trusting me I guess... But I have to say something. I always thought gay guys were like fairies.. you're soft spoken, but hardly a fairy. I mean, you played football.. not many gay people play football, right?

STEFAN: More than you will ever know sunshine!

(SILENCE AS THEY BOTH REFLECT LIKE THE THINKER; STEFAN WITH A SMILE AND BEN LOOKING CONCERNED)

BEN: I see.

STEFAN: Look not all gay men are girly or campy... Dominique is a bit... but...

BEN: For the LOVE OF GOD... whose Dominique?

STEFAN: Tell you what... why don't you and I go out tomorrow. I'll show you a bit of how the other half lives...

BEN: Go where...? I don't know...

STEFAN: Come on... think of it as an anthropology or social deviation class. Maybe you can write a paper about it...

BEN: I don't know... what kind of...

(KNOCK AT THE DOOR)

STEFAN: (Whispering) Just a little out of the way place...

BEN: That must be Mia... Hey, how can we keep it a secret from her? I mean she is bound to find out eventually.

STEFAN: Well, you never knew... never suspected. (takes a deep breath) So, I'll leave that up to you. After all, you know her better than I do.

(KNOCK BECOMES LOUDER AND IMPATIENT)

MIA: (OUTSIDE DOOR) Hey guys! Are you in there? Open the door. I can hear you in there!

(BEN AND STEFAN LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND SHRUG)

BEN: (LOUD WHISPER AS HE WALKS OVER TO OPEN DOOR) Whose Dominique? (OPENS DOOR) Mia! (Gives her a kiss) It's good to see you!

MIA: (TAKES OFF JACKET AND THROWS IT ON COUCH) God! You two smell like a brewery! What took you so long to answer the door? What are you guys have a little man time? (laughs) Want me to go away so you can be alone to have your romantic little evening?

(STEFAN AND BEN LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND BACK AT MIA)

MIA: (Laughing) How are you, Stefan?

STEFAN: I'm OK.

BEN: Yeah, we just got back a little while ago... had a few drinks.

STEFAN: Well, look .. I'm going to turn in. I'm tired and I would imagine you two have a lot to talk about...

BEN and MIA: (AT THE SAME TIME) Yes./No! (They look at each other and smile)

STEFAN: So, I'll take my leave...

BEN: (Walking Stefan to the door) Have a good night my brother.

STEFAN: You too.

(THEY SHAKE HANDS AND THEN BEN PULLS STEFAN INTO HIM AND GIVES HIM A 'MAN' HUG)

MIA: (PULLING ON BEN'S ARM) Easy you two! Stef, he's mine. (Laughs) And I'm not sharing him with anyone!

STEFAN: (Opens door)

BEN: Good night Stef.

STEFAN: (Looks at him a second longer than normal) Night Ben.

(BEN CLOSES DOOR AND TURNS TO MIA)

MIA: So what is it that you want to talk about?

BEN: Let's go to bed.

MIA: I want to know now... you know I hate secrets...Come on!

BEN: (picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder) I said I would tell you later! We have more important things to do now... (runs towards bedroom door. Wendy hits the lights and they exit stage)

(LIGHTS FADE AND MIA'S LAUGHTER CAN BE HEARD OFF STAGE)

-END SCENE ONE-